Bangor get new Community Fire Units

NSW Fire Brigades (NSWFB) Commissioner Greg Mullins today announced the establishment of a new Community Fire Unit (CFU) in Bangor taking the number of CFUs in the Menai/Bangor area to 30.

Commissioner Mullins said the CFU in Dilkara Circuit, Bangor was part of the NSWFB’s ongoing commitment to local communities – and the latest addition to a network of 333 CFUs across the state.

“Community Fire Units are made up of local volunteers who are trained and equipped to play an important role in the protection of property and assets during bushfires,” Commissioner Mullins said.

“I am pleased to announce that more volunteers are ready to assist their local emergency service crews. They have been trained by firefighters from Menai and Sutherland fire stations in how to protect their homes from bushfires, hazard reduction processes and general bushfire management principles.

“I congratulate these residents for their responsible and community-spirited approach. They perform a vitally important role by raising awareness locally of the dangers bushfires present,” he said.

Commissioner Mullins stressed that many homes continued to be under threat from burning embers after the main front of a bushfire had passed.

“CFU members stay with their homes to monitor and extinguish any small fires that might otherwise escalate and seriously damage homes. This enables NSWFB and Rural Fire Service crews to move ahead of, and attack, the main fire fronts.”

Commissioner Mullins said that $2.6 million had been allocated to the ongoing establishment and support of CFUs.

The new CFU equipment is valued at $15,000 and includes:

Firefighting hoses

Portable pump

Hydrant standpipe and fittings

Safety helmets

Gloves

Smoke masks

Goggles

Boots and protective clothing

Tools including rake hoes for making fire trails

First Aid kit

Knapsack pumps

For more information on CFUs visit the Community section on the NSWFB website at www.fire.nsw.gov.au, and for more information on general bushfire safety, visit the RFS website at www.rfs.nsw.gov.au